Pastor Norm was anxious to buy items from the street vendors who line the city streets. These photos are taken on the main street just outside the school wall. Permission is needed to take the photo but when you purchase their merchandise, permission is always granted, especially when you pay a little extra for the photo. Good business people. The product on the left is plantain and sugar cane on the other pictures. I have not yet purchased either of these products. This is the way many of the local Haitians make their daily living.

The day before my birthday, the Van Dams invited the school staff to celebrate God's goodness in my life with cake and ice cream and pop. That was a special treat - the fellowship together. The students the next day sang happy birthday at the Elementary School chapel which we have each Thursday morning. Two of the classes made personalized birthday cards. Pastor Norm and Valerie also brought birthday cards created by students from Scugog Christian School. Thanks for the greetings and encouragement by your participation in our ministry.

Valerie and Norm arrived and found a familiar face among the crowd. It isn't very difficult to find a 'blanc' among the many Haitians at the airport. We praise God that we did have our car by the time Norm and Valerie arrived in Haiti. That was a great blessing and we enjoy the new found freedom. God's timing is always the right timing:-)

Mary took the Sennemas to an orphanage called Faith, Hope and Love Infant Rescue. This place is run by Dorothy Pearce. They are in the moving stage and when Mary comes back from Canada at the end of October, she will be volunteering her services on a regular bases. The monies received from Hope Church will aid this orphange with nannies, a feeding table for the infants and more. Talks with Dorothy are underway.

At the staff retreat, Norm did an excellent job presenting the topic of creating/fostering discipleship. The staff thoroughly enjoyed his presentations and were engrossed in discussions during the break. The staffers and their spouses attended the meetings. There were approximately 50 present at each of the scheduled meetings and Norm did a most excellent job addressing the issue of how we nurture the next generation to fear the Lord.

Ruth Van Dam is explaining how the CRC is at work in Haiti by being a partner organization. The Van Dam's have been in Haiti for more than 15 years and are a great asset to other missionaries sent by our church to Haiti. Their gift of hospitality during our first year made our transition a possibility. They truly are God's messengers in Haiti.

A beautiful pool at the staff retreat. It was huge!

A dug out used by the locals,

The beach with beautiful sand and warm ocean water:-) The boat was from the US doing geological surveys of the Haitin shoreline. It was a land craft with a total of five Americans onboard, all from Maine. They were the crew and the surveyors:-)

This past week we purchased a 'Murphy Bed' so that when we have visitors they could stay with us rather than farming the guests to anothetr place or farming ourselves out. It took an afternoon for four workers to put the bed together and it still needs an adjustment since the front did not slide in place in the right way. It makes the kitchen living room smaller but now we are able to 'entertain' those who come to visit us in Haiti:-)

Each Wednesday, Mary travels across the street and joins the Toastmaster International Club Impact. They had a party since they had completed their first year of existence. Mary has completed 9 speeches and with one more she will be receiving her certificate of being a Competent Communicator. She started this program in Bowmanville and we were surprised to find this organization present in Haiti - just across the road from us. Today in church, I met three young university students in church who are also part of ToastMasters International.

On the road to church, Mary took this snapshot of a side road of the roads we travel. You have no idea. After the rains we had last night, there were many holes in the road that would 'swallow' the tire. There was also a lot more gravel and rocks upon the roads that washed down the mountain. This was the first good rain we have received since our return to Haiti. Travel on the side roads is very slow :-)




This past week, Mary and Denise Blesh, (the lady from upstairs) went to a creche run by Dorothy Pearce, who also attends the church we attend. She is an American rom Jacksonville, FL and has has done this for the last four years. She looks after these babies who for the most part, will return to their homes after they are well enough. The neat thing at Dorothy's place, we all speak the same language and so we know what's happening. She is moving her home closer to where we live due to cheaper rent, a great benefit for Mary and her involvement with this creche.

In the busyness of the week trying to obtain all the paper work for our 'new' vehicle, Mary had the opportunity to capture this picture downtown during her travels. It is a Roman Catholic church. It is great to see many people walking to the various churches on Sondays that worship places such as this cathedral are filled with songs of praise and with the Word of God. On the way to the Quisqueya Chapel, where we worship, there are churches where the people have to sit outside due to the over crowding.






This is the inside of Quisqueya Chapel, which is not on the school grounds, but approximately 10 minutes from the school - that's driving of course. I'll take some snap shots of the roads so you will be able to see why you need a four wheel drive vehicle. Many of the people in this church are locals, who come for the English language - yet the Spirit is able to use this opportunity to bring them to Christ!

Got caught reading! Not all the students love soccer. During the school barbecue, opportunity was given to roller blade on the basketball court or come with their scooters before the basketball court would be used for a volleyball game and a basketball game. Not only did the HS students play against the MS students, but also against the parents. We did well in the volleyball division, but not so great in the basketball. Stiff competition and a lot of stiff parents today - the day after the games.

In His Word, God gave His people new beginnings. I am glad that we also have new beginnings each school year. We can start the new school year with new energies, new commitments, new ideas with a new re-energized and vitalized spirit. Thank You Lord. Here are some of the 130 plus students listening at the openings devotions on the first school day on Monday August 27/2007.

One of the teachers made a cake for the new parents breakfast held this past Friday. The school theme for the year is Nurturing the Faith. The vision of the school is to prepare and equip the students to impact their world for the glory of God. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labours. not only do we focus on the academic growth of the students, but also the spiritual growth.


This past Friday the new parents were asked to come to the school for a continental breakfast. They also received greetings from the board and the director. After the breakfast they were given a campus tour so that they would know campus layout and the classes environment where their children were taught. Most families were representated at the breakfast. We have about 40 new children at the school - increasing the school population to approximately 230 students.

The CRC church is represented in Haiti by the organization called Sous Espwa - which is a partner to various organizations in Haiti - working side by side. This past Saturday we had a pot luck supper and getting to know you evening. A new beginning - of seeing how God is work in Haiti with the various organizations. Having meals together is a great way to have fellowship and encourage one another in the Lord to continue the task He has called us to do. We need to be encouragers of one another. We need to One-Another!

The newest beginning in our lives is having a Haitian drivers license and a vehicle. (A 2005 Hyundai Tucson 4WD automatic diesel) We praise God for these gifts. It makes us more mobile and now we can be a service to those who do not have a vehicle. We pray that the final papers will come through this week. It is great that we are connected to Sous Espwa, because it is through them we know what hoops must be jumped through in order to obtain the proper work papers, driver's license, buy a car and all its paper work. Thanks to Ti Prins (from Sous Espwa) for all his help in getting our papers, license and vehicle.